By Murtuza Iqbal
Kangana Ranaut will next be seen in Thalaivi which is a trilingual film and will release in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. Yesterday, on her birthday, the makers launched the trailer of the film, and while one trailer launch event took place in Chennai, another one happened in Mumbai.
During the trailer launch, Kangana spoke about her experience of working in the South film industry, and the actress stated, “In South industry, there may be nepotism, but there’s no groupism, no bullying, targeting or harassment of outsiders. In fact, you don’t feel like an outsider. They own you, they involve you, and they are absolutely respectful. The way they respect you as a woman and the way they interact with you, it’s so overwhelming and nice, especially because everywhere I am getting banned, and suddenly I find this amazing group of people who are only interested in the film. They only care about the product, nobody does blind items or bitches about anyone, nobody is spreading nasty stories about you, nothing just pure work and pure talent.”
At the trailer launch, when we asked Kangana how difficult was it to learn Tamil and Telugu, she said, “I have learned the language. But, I would not say that my accent was right. My accent is nowhere close to being right. But I would just learn the words, and that was also very difficult for me. To be honest, Tamil particularly is very difficult.”
While talking about dubbing the film in other languages, Kangana said, “It’s Vijay sir’s call, but I don’t think he is okay with my Tamil. He is auditioning a lot of people from Tamil Nadu, and he is not okay with them also. He has found some voice in Hyderabad; so obviously, he has rejected me long ago.”
Thalaivi is slated to release on 23rd April 2021. But, currently, Covid-19 cases are rising rapidly in India.
So, when Kangana was asked if the release date of Thalaivi will be changed, the actress stated, “No, I don’t think so because the film is ready to reach the audiences and the audience is also absolutely ready. Whichever films have come maybe they are not performing to their stature but they are not underperforming either, they are definitely making an impact. We have to collectively fight it and the vaccine is also here. We still have four weeks, we are very hopeful that things will improve, and we will have 100 percent occupancy in theatres. Maybe in a few areas, we won’t, but we are prepared for that.”
Thalaivi is directed by AL Vijay, and it also stars Arvind Swami, Bhagyashree, and Madhoo in pivotal roles.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.